Bad internet service and Marathon training.

There are few things as frustrating as writing a high-quality post for your new blog, and then having your internet service go down when you attempt to publish. That happened to me last night for the first time. I hope it is the last, but I have a feeling it wont be. Anyway, I will try to reproduce my thoughts, but I was in one of those grooves that doesn't come along every day. Oh well.

It's been a while since I last posted, and I apologize. I have been really busy. Taking up most of my free time has been my training for the Chicago marathon, which I am running on October 9th. I did 12 miles last night, and 20 miles on Saturday morning. I am feeling pretty strong, and I just got a sweet new pair of shoes, so I am in business. I feel like I have finally gotten over the hump, and my long runs have gone from dreaded pain sessions to near-enjoyable workouts.

Several projects around my condo have also been occupying my time lately. I just finished painting the baseboards in my garage last night. I know most garages don't have baseboards, but I painted the floor in my garage, and then made some big fat seven-inch baseboards that look pretty sweet. I still need to clean the place up, but it has been transformed into another room of the house. This will definitely come in handy when I go to sell it next month.

Yesterday I got the new Casting Crowns CD, Lifesong. I am actually listening to it right now. I got a great deal by pre-ordering it at Family Book Store. The CD is excellent. I listened to the whole thing during my run last night, and I would say there are about 8 great songs on it. "While You Were Sleeping" had me crying in the middle of mile four, and I am going to have to learn how to play it on the piano. It is powerful. The title song, Lifesong, could be just that, the theme song for our lives. I would definitely recommend the purchase.

Finally, I wanted to share a little bit of what I read last night before bed. I was in Hebrews 11.
The chapter is all about faith.

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

After recounting the stories of several heroes of faith, we hit verse 13.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

There are more examples of heroes who lived by faith, and then we hit verse 36.

36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.
37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated -
38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

I love in verse 13 where it says "they admitted they were aliens and strangers on earth." That is the mindset we must have if we want to be effective for Christ. True faith is believing that our home is in heaven, and that God has planned and prepared something for us that is so much better than we could ever experience on earth. As evidence in verses 36 and 37, we are promised that following Jesus is not going to be easy. It may cost us everything, including our lives, but will be worth it, because if we live sold out to Jesus Christ, this world will not be worthy of us (verse 38).

So be sure of what you hope for, and certain of what you cannot see (verse 1). Have faith. This pleases God (verse 6), who has something so much better planned for you (verse 40).

Dios les bendiga!

Reunion

This weekend my church had a reunion of our youth choir to celebrate our music minister's 20th anniversary at the church. It was a really good time, and I was pretty impressed with how good the choir sounded after only practicing for a couple of hours. We sang in both services on Sunday morning, and then did a mini-concert for the Sunday night service. The best part was getting to see everyone that used to be in the choir, and share old memories and stories from summer trips and choir tours. The reunion had a great turnout, and I was really happy to see so many people show up to say "thank you" to Philip, our music minister. He led the youth choir from 1986 to 2002. It was great to see the number of lives he touched and and have those people come back and participate.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

This is my favorite Bible passage. It has had special meaning to me since I first read it in high school, but lately it has taken on even more significance.

We are all engaged in a race. The race is life. There is only one way to win the race, and that is to live for Jesus Christ. Everyone who competes is trying hard to win something. Most are aiming for prizes that do not last. Whether it be success in finance, athletics, politics, business, or relationships, all of these are temporary prizes. They do not last. Paul encourages us to live for prizes that last forever. The only things that last forever are those things that we accomplish for God, most importantly living for Jesus and leading other people to Him.

Paul tells us that he does not run aimlessly or fight like a man beating the air. He is telling us to stay focused and not waste our time on things that are not forwarding our cause. A man who runs aimlessly has no destination, no goal. Paul encourages us to stay focused on the prize. A fighter who beats the air is expending a lot of energy, without having any effect. Paul tells us to make sure our punches are connecting so that we do waste our time and efforts on ineffective activities.

Finally, Paul says that he beats his body and makes it his slave, so that after preaching to others he is not disqualified from the prize. He is telling us that we must become disciplined and exhibit self-control. We need to gain control over our bodies so that we do not fall into temptations and get sidetracked by distractions that keep us from the eternal prizes we seek. If we can discipline ourselves and stay focused on Christ, we will live life to its fullest, running to win the prize, and we will be eternally rewarded at the finish line.

Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns!

I heard an interesting quote this weekend that I have been thinking about quite a bit. The quote is "Don't wait for orders from headquarters. Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns." Althought this quote is probably most known for being used by Pat Buchanan, specifically after winning the 1996 Republican primaries in New Hampshire, it is widely attributed to one of Napoleon's generals, possibly during the Battle of Waterloo. (I have been to Waterloo!) From there it spread, and apparently became a widely used cavalry phrase, even quoted during the American Civil War. Anyway, although the quote undoubtedly has military origins, I believe it also has a good application in our spiritual lives.

In battle during the time period of our phrase, it was often difficult to communicate with commanding officers, and therefore orders from headquarters were often delayed, or sometimes never made it to their intended recipients. The terrain, gun smoke, night or weather conditions, and the confusion of battle were all factors that may have made it impossible for soldiers to know specifically what their commanding officers wanted them to do. By telling them not to wait, but to instead, "Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns," they were being told to go toward the action, stay engaged in the battle, and not to be aimlessly wandering around the countryside. Many times a large battle consisted of several fronts, with skirmishes and smaller battles raging across a wide area. When a line was broken, a strategic point taken, or a skirmish won or lost, officers wanted their troops to rejoin the battle at another point. The goal was to keep the soldiers constantly engaged, presenting the full fighting force to the enemy, and to prevent any soldiers from getting lost or misdirected.

I believe this quote presents a great application to our spiritual lives. As Christians, we must realize that we are constantly engaged in a spiritual war. Every day there are different fronts being formed and many battles being fought. The problem with most Christians is that they have disengaged the enemy, and have engaged themselves somewhere away from the front, away from the sound of the guns. They are wondering around the countryside, hearing the sound of gunfire in the distance, but hesitating because the are waiting for orders that have already come. God has given us our "Mount up" instructions many times in Scripture, of which I believe the Great Commission is the best example (Matthew 28:19). As Christians, we need to re-engage in the battle, and quit using excuses such as saying that we are just waiting for God to give us our "orders" and show us what to do. There is "gunfire" all around us. There are people to witness to, ministries to get involved in, churches to support, prayers that need to be fervently offered by dedicated prayer warriors, and lives that need to be touched by soldiers who realize there is a war going on. There is a reason Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full armor of God. He intends for us to fight. He intends for us to be constantly engaged in the battle. If our lines are broken, we are to "Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns," where we will regroup with our fellow soldiers and reinforce our lines for the next charge. If we take a hill, we are to continue on so that we can take the next hill. Whether the conflict we are engaged in seems won or lost, we are to be fully in the thick of it, because that is what we have been told to do.

When Christians do not stay engaged in the spiritual battle, there are several consequences. One, we are not presenting our full fighting force against the enemy. Why have weapons if you are not going to use them? We need every Christian engaged in the battle so that we can win more of them. Two, we lose sight of the enemy. When we are not engaged in the battle, we take our eyes of the "enemy," or the temptations, distractions, and stumbling blocks that seek to defeat us spiritually. When we are engaged, we are on the lookout for these things, and we have other soldiers around to watch our backs and provide cover. This is also know as accountability. Three, we may be confused with the enemy. One of the greatest tragedies of war is when soldiers are killed due to friendly fire. When a Christian is not engaged in spiritual warfare, but instead watches the battle from afar, they may have difficulty determining who is on what side. Just as it is sometimes difficult for soldiers to determine who is friend or foe, unengaged Christians can experience the same thing. Anyone who has been involved in a church long enough has seen the damage that can be done when Christians take each other out of the battle through "friendly fire." Because they are not unified and engaging the enemy together, they engaged one another in battle. Unfortunately, this behavior can often split families, churches, communities, and entire denominations. We need to stay engaged and ride to the sound of the guns so that we avoid these pitfalls, and remain active and effective soldiers in the service of God.

I encourage you as a Christian and fellow soldier in the army of the Lord: "Don't wait for orders from headquarters. Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns!" Stay constantly engaged in the battle of winning lost souls to Jesus Christ! Be strong and courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6), put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10), and ride confidently ahead, for our Lord goes out before us (Deuteronomy 9:3).

Dios les bendiga!

Great day!

Today was a great day. It started early, as Matt and I were up at 5:30 to start our 19 mile run. Despite feeling horrible on miles 16-18, we finished pretty strong. It was an excellent beginning to the day. After getting cleaned up, drinking gallons of water and Gatorade, and trying to stretch, we went to Perkin's to have some lunch. There is nothing like sitting down to French Toast after running for three and a half hours. Anyway, after lunch I took a well-deserved four hour nap. We then went to see my little neice and nephew, but Baby Neva was already in bed, and Baby Walton was in one of those "I don't know" moods, where he won't answer any questions or do anything to show off how smart he is. After visiting my parents, we went down to the Levee for dinner at Cafe Istanbul. It was my first time there and I love the food! The chicken kebabs are awesome! Anyway, Matt fell in love with our Polish waitress and decided he needs to move up here so he can go there for dinner more often. My old college roommate Jeff met us at the restaurant, and then we met up with Chris and went to see the movie Four Brothers. Despite a few cheesey scenes it was a pretty good movie. There was a lot of action, the characters were decently developed, and there were several unexpected twists. I enjoyed it, but not as much as Matt. The dude raved about the movie all night. After leaving the Levee we met Grimes and Jay at Cassidy's for some high-quality karaoke. You can't beat good karaoke! We closed the place down with God Bless the USA at about 2 a.m. Jeff had four lady-friends meet him there, and Grimes wife Amanda came by as well. It was a great ending to a really fun day. Oh wait, that's not the end. Thompson (Matt) and I came back to the house, and while I tried to clean the place up we watched a DVD on Ronald Reagan. I love that guy! By far the best president in recent memory. He makes today's politicians, Republican and Democrat, look like a bunch of chumps. Fair assessment. Anyway, I need to get some sleep so I am coherent for church in the morning. Also, the fantasy football draft is at noon, and I need to be at the top of my game. After the night he had tonight, we definitely don't need to worry about Jay being much of a factor. Well, off to bed. God Bless!

Big weekend.

As I prepare for the weekend, there are several things to be excited about. Tonight, my friend Matt, one of my best friends from college, is coming to town. We have been training for the Chicago Marathon on October 9th, and we will be doing a 19 mile training run in the morning. I can't wait until 6 a.m. so we can get started! Sunday is the fourth annual draft day for our fantasy football league. There will be nine football-crazed lunatics at my house at noon to pick their teams for the next season. I have swung a pretty good trade to move up to the #3 overall pick, and I am pretty confident in my strategy.

Aside from the fun I will be having this weekend with my friends, I pray that God shows me how to best honor him in my activities, and that I have many opportunities to witness to my buddies. I have been praying lately that I will stay focused each day, looking to turn every conversation into a chance to talk about Jesus.

I will also be trying to get some work done around my house this weekend. With missionary orientation rapidly approaching, I need to finish a few home improvement projects so I can sell my condo. I would really like to get all of the necessary financial transactions wrapped up ASAP, so I can prepare to leave without having to mess with money issues. I know that God will provide at the proper time, I just hope it is sooner, rather than later. I know, so typical. :o)

Well, I am going to go get something to eat. I am thinking pasta is a good option for tonight, considering the run I have coming up in the morning. I look forward to posting tomorrow and letting you know how it went. God Bless!

Much will be required.

It is 3:30 in the morning and I am contemplating having another bowl of Frosted Flakes. The last two were really good. I think I have gotten this whole blog thing figure out - it really isn't that difficult. Anyway, considering I have to work in the morning, I should probably be in bed, but those things can wait.

I really feel blessed tonight. Lately, God has really been showing me all the things that He has given me. Maybe it is because I am thinking about what it is going to be like to leave the country for a couple of years. It also could be that being away from things and people you love makes you appreciate them even more. One way or the other, I can't get over how much God has done for me, and all that He has given me in this place where I am.

This is a good thing, but it also has me thinking about why God has blessed me so much. Aside from the fact that He loves me, and therefore wants to bless me, I keep feeling this enormous sense of responsibility. My entire life my mother has told me "To whom much is given, much is required." This is from Luke 12:48. My small group leader at the missions screening conference told me the exact same thing (word for word) during our one-on-one session. I can't help but think that God has given me so much because He is going to require a lot out of me. In the last two years, God has brought me to the point where I look at money and material possessions in that way - that He has given them to me to use for Him. It also hasn't been difficult for me to look at my talents and abilities like that. More and more, I am beginning to look at my life like that as well. Christ came to earth as the perfect example to us, and what did he do? He gave his life away. I am not trying to sound crazy, or like I think I am going to die on the mission field or something, but I believe that God calls each one of us to give our lives away. For me right now, that means giving up a lot of the things I have come to love and be comfortable with. I will be required to give myself completely to people I haven't yet met, so that some of them can come to know Christ. It reminds me of the old Michael W. Smith song that says "Love isn't love until you give it away." Christ provided the ultimate example of this idea, and told us that we are not worthy to follow Him unlesss we are willing to give up everything else as well. So, blessings are great, but I am learning that the reason I am blessed is so I can give it away - not just to a charity or to make myself feel good, but so that people would see the love of Christ and be drawn to Him. This is what true discipleship requires!

Have a great night, and by the way, that third bowl of Frosted Flakes was even better than the first two. Dios les bendiga!

First Post

Okay, I am now officially a blogger. I have started "joshonamission" because my name is Josh and I am preparing to become a missionary. This blog will allow me to share my adventures with my family and friends back home, as well as those scattered around the world on their own adventures. It will also allow me to keep in touch with everyone and provide a regular log of what is going on in my life. This is exciting!